Protective bib

ABSTRACT

A protective bib configured to be donned by a child wherein the bib of the present invention is operable to protect clothing being worn by a child and further inhibit food and other material from falling into the child&#39;s lap when the child is disposed in a high chair. The bib includes a body that is planar in manner having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the body includes a first arm member and a second arm member opposedly located on the body. A neck aperture is located intermediate the first arm member and second arm member. The lower portion includes a first lateral longitudinal edge and a second lateral longitudinal edge. The body is shaped wherein the distance between the first lateral longitudinal edge and second lateral longitudinal edge progressively increases proximate the lower end of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a protective garments, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a child's protective bib that is configured to be donned by a child in a high chair wherein the present invention protects the torso as well as inhibiting food and other objects from falling into the lap of the child.

BACKGROUND

Thousands of caretakers engage in regular daily routines when caring for small children and infants. Child care routine involves tasks such as but not limited to cleaning and feeding the child. For the latter, routine feeding can involve the utilization of a high chair once the child has reached a certain age. As is known in the art, a high chair incorporates a seating platform that has a height greater than that of a regular chair and the seating area has a releasably secured tray proximate thereto. As a child is in their development stages, the tray serves as a platform to place food wherein the food can be reached by the child and the child can then learn to feed themselves. Alternatively, the caretaker can also feed the child utilizing utensils while the child sits in the high chair. It is quite common that a bib will be placed on the torso of the child in order to protect the child's clothing so as to inhibit food or drink being spilled thereon.

One problem with conventional bibs is there configuration does not inhibit food or drink from being spilled on the lap of the child and further does not prevent food from falling between the child and the tray resulting in food debris commonly being found on the floor after a child feeding. Conventional protective bibs lay adjacent to the torso of the child and are secured around their neck. They further lack the ability to protect more areas of the child's garment such as but not limited to the sleeves thereof.

It is intended within the scope of the present invention to provide a protective bib that is configured to provide improved protection of a child's clothing during feeding and further inhibit food and other debris from falling in between the tray of a high chair and the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the present invention includes a body that is planar in manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein the body of the present invention includes a first side and a second side.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion includes opposing arm members and a neck aperture.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein the lower portion of the body includes opposing lateral longitudinal edges wherein the opposing lateral longitudinal edges have an increasing distance therebetween progressively towards the lower end of the body.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the lower end includes a first securing member on a first edge thereof.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair that further includes a second securing member secured to the second edge of the body proximate the lower end of the body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the body is manufactured from a water resistant material such as but not limited to polyester.

An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that utilization thereof could extend to devices other than high chairs such as but not limited to strollers.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention during use in a high chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a protective bib 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic.

Now referring to the Drawings submitted as a part hereof, the protective bib 100 includes a body 10. The body 10 is manufactured from a material such as but not limited to polyester. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 is configured to inhibit penetration of food and liquids therethrough so as to provide protection of a child's clothing during feeding or drinking activities. The body 10 includes a first side 11 and a second side 12. The body 10 has a contiguously formed upper portion 15 and lower portion 20. The body 10 is manufactured as a single piece utilizing suitable techniques.

The upper portion 15 of the body 10 includes a first arm member 25 and a second arm member 30. The first arm member 25 extends outward from the body 10 having a distal end 26 wherein the distal end 26 includes an opening 27 allowing a hand 99 to be journaled therethrough. The first arm member 25 is configured to be of sufficient length to extend the length of the arm of the wearer so as to provide protection of any garment underneath that the child is wearing. While the first arm member 25 is illustrated herein as being a particular length, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first arm member 25 could be manufactured in alternate lengths. The first arm member 25 is tubular in shape being hollow so as to permit an arm to be journaled therein.

The upper portion 15 of the body 10 further includes a second arm member 30. The second arm member 30 extends outward from the body 10 having a distal end 31 wherein the distal end 31 includes an opening 32 allowing a hand 98 to be journaled therethrough. The second arm member 30 is configured to be of sufficient length to extend the length of the arm of the wearer so as to provide protection of any garment underneath that the child is wearing. The second arm member 30 is formed on the opposing side of the body 10 from the first arm member 25. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the second arm member 30 is manufactured to a similar length as the first arm member 25 having an identical construction as well.

Intermediate the first arm member 25 and second arm member 30 along the upper edge 8 of the body 10 is the neck aperture 40. The neck aperture 40 is configured to be of sufficient size so as to be releasably secured around a child's neck. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the neck aperture 40 could be releasably secured behind a child's neck utilizing a small piece of the body 10 that would employ a fastener such as but not limited to a hook and loop fastener. Additionally, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the neck aperture 40 is adjustable in size.

The body 10 includes a lower portion 20 having a first lateral longitudinal edge 50 and a second lateral longitudinal edge 60. The first lateral longitudinal edge 50 and second lateral longitudinal edge 60 have a distance therebetween that increases approaching the lower end 7 of the body 10. The aforementioned configuration of the first lateral longitudinal edge 50 and second lateral longitudinal edge 60 creates a shape of the body 10 that has a greater width proximate the lower end 7. The greater width of the body 10 at the lower end 7 provides the ability for the body 10 to extend across the width of the tray 97 of the exemplary high chair 96. This configuration inhibits the falling of food and other debris from falling onto the lap of the child as well as the floor underneath the high chair 96 and instead fall into pocket 77. Conventional bibs do not provide this configuration and as such cannot achieve the desired functionality of inhibiting food and other debris from contacting the lap of the child or falling onto the floor.

Secured to the lower end 7 of the body 10 are a first securing member 65 and a second securing member 70. The first securing member 65 and second securing member 70 are operable to releasable secure to the high chair 96 so as to position the pocket 77 of the lower portion 20 of the body 10 in a generally horizontal orientation thus inhibiting food and/or drink from egressing therepast. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the first securing member 65 and second securing member 70 are manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to nylon and could employ releasable securing fasteners such as but not limited to hook and loop fasteners. While a first securing member 65 and a second securing member 70 are illustrated and discussed herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could have more or less than two securing members operable to secure the lower end 7 of the body 10 to a high chair 96 so as to maintain a section of the lower portion 20 in a generally horizontal position.

While the protective bib 100 has been discussed herein as being utilized in a high chair 96 during feeding of a child, it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the protective bib 100 could be utilized in other devices such as but not limited to a stroller. Furthermore, the protective bib 100 could be worn by a child during alternate activities such as but not limited to painting. While the body 10 is illustrated herein as being tapered outward in shape, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could have a consistent width or be formed in alternate shapes in order to achieve the desired objective discussed herein.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective bib configured to be donned by a child wherein the protective bib comprises: a body, said body being planar in manner, said body having a first side and a second side, said body having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion being contiguously formed, said body having an upper end and a lower end, said lower portion of said body having a first lateral longitudinal edge and a second lateral longitudinal edge; and wherein said lower end of said body is configured to extend a length so as to be operably coupled to an object in which the child is sitting.
 2. The protective bib as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower end of said body further includes at least one securing member, said at least one securing member operable to releasably secure the lower end of the body to a portion of a device in which a child wearing the protective bib is disposed.
 3. The protective bib as recited in claim 2, wherein the first arm member is configured to extend a full length of a first arm of the child wearing the protective bib.
 4. The protective bib as recited in claim 3, wherein the neck aperture is configured to be releasably secured around a child's neck.
 5. The protective bib as recited in claim 4, wherein the lower portion of the body is placed in a horizontal position during wearing by the child.
 6. The protective bib as recited in claim 5, wherein the second arm member is configured to extend a full length of a second arm of the child wearing the protective bib.
 7. A protective bib configured to be worn by a child when the child is seated in a high chair wherein the protective bib comprises: a body, said body being planar in manner, said body being manufactured from an impenetrable material, said body having a first side and a second side, said body having a contiguously formed upper portion and lower portion, said body having an upper edge and a lower end, said lower portion of said body having a first lateral longitudinal edge and a second lateral longitudinal edge; a first securing member and second securing member, said first securing member and said second securing member being located proximate said lower end of said body, said first securing member being proximate said first lateral longitudinal edge, said second securing member being proximate said second lateral longitudinal edge, said body having a width intermediate said first lateral longitudinal edge and said second lateral longitudinal edge that is greater; and wherein the lower portion of said body is configured to be in a horizontal position when being worn by the child seated in the high chair so as to create a pocket that inhibits material from egressing therepast.
 8. The protective bib as recited in claim 7, wherein the pocket of the lower portion of the body in a horizontal position inhibits material from contacting a lap area of the child.
 9. The protective bib as recited in claim 8, wherein the first arm member and second arm member are configured to extend a full length of a child's arm wearing the protective bib.
 10. The protective bib as recited in claim 9, wherein the body is manufactured from polyester. 